The Board denied service connection for bilateral shoulder disabilities, internal bleeding, and radiculopathy of the right side. The cervical spine disability was not granted due to lack of evidence.
The deciding factor: The Veteran's current conditions were not related to his military service or exposure to herbicides.
- Claimed conditions
- bilateral shoulder strain, arthritis of the right shoulder, spondylosis and degenerative disc disease of the cervical spine, radiculopathy of the right side
- How they argued it
- Presumptive (no nexus needed)
- Exposure basis
- Gulf War
- Rating assigned
- None in this decision
- Decision date
- December 15, 2020
- Citation
- 20078993
This is a plain-language summary generated by AI from a public Board of Veterans’ Appeals decision. It can contain errors — always verify against the original. Look up the original decision on VA.gov (opens in a new tab) using citation 20078993.
What this means for you
A denial is a starting point, not the end of the road. You can see why this claim fell short — and, if you are still inside the one-year window, the appeal lanes that may remain open to you.
What you can do next
Related decisions
Other Board decisions on a similar condition or argued the same way.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has determined that there was a duty to assist error and remands the claims for bilateral shoulder strain, ankle tendonitis, and patellofemoral pain syndrome due to inadequate VA opinions.
- Granted
The Veteran's service connection claims for various musculoskeletal conditions have been granted, with a specific rating of 40 percent for the right upper extremity weakness resulting from stroke.
- Granted
The Board has determined that the Veteran's bilateral shoulder disability is related to service, resolving all doubts in his favor. The evidence shows a current diagnosis of bilateral shoulder strain and degenerative arthritis, which the Veteran attributes to injuries sustained during military service.
- Remanded (sent back)
The Board has granted service connection for middle back strain. The claims of service connection for PTSD, bilateral hip sprain, and bilateral shoulder strain are remanded due to a duty to assist error.
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